I'll post this before Sirius or Nick do, to demonstrate that I am always open to seeing both sides of the story. This does not seem right to me at all, that company of all people. And rather than giving immediate typical sarcastic comments, I want to know more facts about it before I can sensibly comment.

But I have to say that upon the face of it, it does not make good reading.

To be quite honest, I read the whole story & not from the "Waily Fail" either. With their history, especially with providing the Spitfires & Lancasters with those famous Merlin engines of theirs, I was dismayed.

That was from the BBC. Rolls Royce also produced the RB211 for the Tristar amongst others, the Pegasus for the Harrier Jump jet, the Olympus for Concorde, and the Adour for the Red Arrows Hawk, and the Anglo/French Jaguar.

I am horrified if this is true, and there has been any tax "avoidance" and I use the term carefully.

Major banks making serious losses & yet continue to pay out big bonuses...."

This is a world wide problem. They want to use our infrastructure, they want access to our markets, they want the political stability our societies provide and they do not want to contribute. I say let them go to Somalia or the like. Others will spring up to fill the economic void.

What I meant Gary was that the name of Rolls Royce is respected around the world as the very essence of Britisness and quality in both the automotive and aerospace areas. To think that they haven't been upfront in paying due taxes I see as a bit of a blow to our national pride. Bear in mind though that this is the aerospace engine builder, Rolls Royce motors are owned by BMW.

What I meant Gary was that the name of Rolls Royce is respected around the world as the very essence of Britisness and quality in both the automotive and aerospace areas. To think that they haven't been upfront in paying due taxes I see as a bit of a blow to our national pride. Bear in mind though that this is the aerospace engine builder, Rolls Royce motors are owned by BMW.

They are just doing their fiduciary duty to their shareholders as every other corporation on the face of the planet should. Why should there by any surprise that they are obeying the law? Do you expect them to violate it? Are you unaware of the law?

It was being suggested that Rolls Royce paid little or no Corporation Tax which was being seen as wrong when they were making a profit. There has been no suggestion that they were breaking the law, any tax avoidance is not illegal. I am just surprised that Rolls Royce of all people are seemingly not squeaky clean and would attract this sort of criticism.

Economist Richard Murphy, director of campaign group Tax Research UK, said it did not appear to be fair that a profitable company was not paying any UK tax.

He said: "Legality is not the question. The big question is, is it right, is it fair and we have got the proper tax system?"

A spokesman for HMRC said: "HMRC ensures that multinationals pay the tax due in accordance with UK tax law.

It was being suggested that Rolls Royce paid little or no Corporation Tax which was being seen as wrong when they were making a profit. There has been no suggestion that they were breaking the law, any tax avoidance is not illegal. I am just surprised that Rolls Royce of all people are seemingly not squeaky clean and would attract this sort of criticism.

Economist Richard Murphy, director of campaign group Tax Research UK, said it did not appear to be fair that a profitable company was not paying any UK tax.

He said: "Legality is not the question. The big question is, is it right, is it fair and we have got the proper tax system?"

A spokesman for HMRC said: "HMRC ensures that multinationals pay the tax due in accordance with UK tax law.